देन (den)
noun
A feminine noun meaning a 'gift' or 'contribution' -- something bestowed or given, often used figuratively for a legacy or debt owed to someone's influence. Related to but distinct from देना (denaa, 'to give').
Sense
1
:
contribution, gift, legacy
noun, feminine Almost always used with की (kii) to say 'X is the gift/contribution of Y', e.g. 'यह प्रकृति की देन है' (yah prakriti kii den hai, 'this is a gift of nature').
Synonyms: उपहार (upahaar), योगदान (yogdaan, contribution), वरदान (vardaan, boon)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll often hear this word in slightly reflective or philosophical statements -- 'यह समय की देन है' (yah samay kii den hai, 'this is a gift of time/circumstance') is a classic way to express that something is the product of larger forces, not any one person's doing. It carries a gentle, almost literary warmth, common in essays, speeches, and thoughtful conversation.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse देन (den) with दैन (not a word) or with देना (denaa) itself -- देन (den) is a noun and never conjugates like a verb. 2) It is used almost exclusively in the abstract, figurative sense (a gift of nature, time, culture, etc.) rather than for a literal, physical gift handed over -- for that, उपहार (upahaar) or तोहफ़ा (tohfaa) is more natural.
Sample Sentences:
यह मंदिर हमारे पूर्वजों की देन है।
This temple is a legacy of our ancestors.
(yah mandir hamaare poorvjon kii den hai।)
यह समय की देन है कि हम आज इतनी आसानी से बात कर पाते हैं।
It's a gift of time that we're able to communicate so easily today.
(yah samay kii den hai ki ham aaj itnii aasaanii se baat kar paate hain।)
समाज को उनकी देन कभी भुलाई नहीं जा सकती।
Their contribution to society can never be forgotten.
(samaaj ko unkii den kabhii bhulaaii nahiin jaa saktii।)
अगर यह उसकी देन न होती, तो हम आज यहाँ न होते।
If this hadn't been his gift to us, we wouldn't be here today.
(agar yah uskii den n hotii, to ham aaj yahaan n hote।)
इस भाषा की समृद्धि कई सदियों की देन है।
The richness of this language is the gift of many centuries.
(is bhaashaa kii samriddhi kaii sadiyon kii den hai।)
क्या यह प्रगति सिर्फ तकनीक की देन है, या इसमें इंसानी मेहनत भी है?
Is this progress merely a gift of technology, or is there human effort in it too?
(kyaa yah pragti sirph takniik kii den hai, yaa ismen insaanii mehnat bhii hai?)
शायद यह उसकी देन मानी जाए, पर मुझे पूरा यकीन नहीं है।
Perhaps this may be considered his contribution, but I'm not entirely sure.
(shaayad yah uskii den maanii jaae, par mujhe pooraa yakiin nahiin hai।)
इतिहासकारों ने माना कि यह सभ्यता की सबसे बड़ी देन थी।
Historians agreed that this was civilization's greatest gift.
(itihaaskaaron ne maanaa ki yah sabhytaa kii sabse badii den thii।)
उसकी लेखनी साहित्य को एक अनमोल देन देगी।
His writing will give literature a priceless gift.
(uskii lekhnii saahity ko ek anmol den degii।)
यह परंपरा हमें अपने बुजुर्गों से देन के रूप में मिली है।
We received this tradition as a legacy from our elders.
(yah parampraa hamen apne bujurgon se den ke roop men milii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
देन
(den)
(sg.f.oblique):
देन
(den)
(pl.f.direct):
देनें
(denen)
(pl.f.oblique):
देनों
(denon)